Does your cat ignore you for the first 24 hours after you return from a trip? Does your dog or bird stop eating while you are gone? Do animals that normally get along begin to fight? Do they start to get upset when your suitcase comes out? Do you worry about them when you have to travel?

It does not take telepathy for our animal friends to notice that a suitcase has been pulled from the closet. They know this means something is about to happen that affects their lives, but they don’t know what to expect each time.

Setting expectations helps reduce stress for everyone. Here’s how to make things easier for yourself and your animals.

“Before You Leave” Technique

While you may not believe that you are telepathic, you can still communicate with your animals about your trip. If you think your animals may have questions, ask an Animal Communicator to help you with this conversation.

The animals are all telepathic, so if you choose to do this yourself, use mental pictures and take the time to fill in details.

1) Be physically present with the animal, sitting down if appropriate.

2) Close your eyes for a moment, take 3 deep breaths, and tell yourself to relax as you exhale.

3) Get the animal’s attention by saying the animal’s name.

4) Just as you would tell a spouse or partner about a trip you are taking, tell your animal friends. Include details and use mental pictures or images to help get the message across.

a) Tell them you are going away and the purpose of your trip.

Animals care about us and want us to take care of ourselves. When you explain why you are taking a trip, you can say:

VACATION: “I’m going to go on a vacation where I cannot take you. I need to rest and relax and have no responsibilities for a short time. Unfortunately, there is no way you can come along.” Hold a picture in your mind of the place you are planning to visit.

BUSINESS: “I have to take a trip for my job. While I’m away, I’ll be working.” Hold a picture in your mind of you at work.

b) Tell them when you are leaving and when you are returning.

Animals understand concepts of time. They know what a day/night cycle is. They also understand human concepts of a week. Animals who live outside understand moon cycles. You might say, “Today is Wednesday. I’m leaving in two days, on Friday morning, and I will be back 4 days after that, on Tuesday evening.”

c) Tell them who is going to take care of them. You can say:

KENNEL: “You will be staying at the same kennel you stayed at last time. Remember what a good time you had?” Have a picture in your mind of what the place looked like, followed by an image of a person at that place whom your animal really liked. (Make sure this person is still working there if you tell them to expect so see that person.) Remind them about the activities there that they like.

STAYING WITH A FRIEND: “You’ll be staying at [insert person’s name] home. You’ll get to play with [insert person’s and/or animal’s name(s).” Fill in more details if you have them.

PET or HOUSE SITTER “[person’s name] is going to [stay here] or [come ___ (fill in number) of times a day] to take of you.”

d) Fill in more details about their care while you are gone.

Reassure the animals that they will be fed their normal food, supplements, and medicine.

Tell them what the caretaker will do: groom them, take them for a walk, play with them, clean their cage or litter box, whatever. You can say: “I’ll make sure you have your own food, bed, and toys.”

e) Tell them you will miss them and be sending them love from your heart while you are gone.

Use the “While Traveling” technique described below to communicate with your animal while you are away.